Ceratomia undulosa
Ceratomia undulosa
Ceratomia undulosa is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The type is one of the most common moth species in eastern North America.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a forewing length of 40-48 millimeters. The coloration of butterfly is variable. Individuals from the north of the range are more likely very dark, with reduced white markings. Individuals from the western Pennsylvania and eastern New York are often melanic, and thus dyed almost black. Animals of the southwest Texas are colored rather lacking in contrast gray. There are also light yellowish brown individuals. The species can be confused with Ceratomia catalpae and Ceratomia hageni. Of the first kind, but they can be easily distinguished by the front wing patterning. The pattern consists in Ceratomia undulosa almost always strongly contrasting shades of gray, white and black. Also, a clear white medial line and a white Diskalfleck and a white band at the outer edge hem is formed on the top. In Ceratomia catalpae the pattern is covered by a dull brown color and lacks the white elements. Ceratomia hageni has only the white Diskalfleck and the white hem, the other white elements are missing as well. The white median line, in this type replaced by a dark, with the addition of Submarginalbereich and the wing tip are drawn white. The hind wings of Ceratomia undulosa are gray with indistinct dark binding.
The caterpillars are quite variable. Your base color ranges from light green to dark brown and there are many individuals who are spotted with these color combinations. The back is usually darker than the ventral side. The caterpillars have a long, slender body with a striking Analhorn. On the sides they carry seven white diagonal stripes that run from the front of each segment approximately at the level of the spiracles to the back of the next segment. The body of the animals is very smooth. Verpuppungsbereite caterpillars take on a pink color.
The doll resembles that of Ceratomia sonorensis. It is almost black and has a dark brown shimmer at the ends of each abdominal segment. Its surface is slightly rough. The proboscis sheath is deformed, the short, very wide cremaster ends in a double peak.
Occurrence
The species has a similar distribution in North America as Ceratomia Amyntor, the distribution area but greater. To the east you will find the way from southern Florida north into the Corner Brook in Newfoundland. It occurs throughout the center of the continent from west Texas ' about northeast Utah, Montana to the east in the Rocky Mountain foothills in Alberta. In Canada it is disseminated by the Prince Edward Iceland and Nova Scotia, to the east of Alberta.
Ceratomia undulosa populated areas with dense forest vegetation of ash trees. As Ceratomia Amyntor the way to the east is often, but only locally common in the West.
Way of life
The moths fly at night frequently to light sources. Although the proboscis only reaches a length of about 11 millimeters, it is expected despite poor documentation assumes that the species can ingest food, especially as the flight muscles is formed. Other sources mention Saugrüssellängen of up to 30 millimeters.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly fairly throughout the entire range from late May to mid-July. In eastern Ontario you can see two peaks in mid-June and mid-July, but bimodal flight times for dreamers are otherwise unknown. In Louisiana, the kind flies in several generations of March to September.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly on ash trees (Fraxinus ), but one also has to privet ( Ligustrum ) Chionanthus virginicus and found that as the olive tree family ( Oleaceae ) count. There is also evidence of oak (Quercus ) and hawthorns (Crataegus ).
Development
The females lay their pale green, medium sized eggs singly on the underside of the caterpillar food plants. After about eight days, the caterpillars hatch. Pupation takes place in a chamber a few inches deep in the ground.